Those who think they know it all are very annoying to those of us who do.
Robert K. Muller
Recently a client loaned a copy of Tom Shadyac's documentary, 'I Am', to me. I LOVED it! It explores the questions of what's wrong with the world and what can we do about it. Best summed up in GK Chesterton's essay on the topic; What's wrong with the world? 'Dear Sirs,' he wrote, 'I am.'
The world currently seems overcome with greed and war but the movie describes how, in reality, our essential nature is one of love and connection, not just to each other but to all forms of life. It was a beautiful and inspiring movie and I was bouncing around with a warm, joyful feeling that I desperately wanted to share with Kevin.
He, however, didn't want to watch so I begged, pleaded, cajoled and negotiated with him. He simply wasn't interested. Talk about crashing back down to earth with a rather unsightly thud! I mean seriously, a message of love and connection so important to me and he just wasn't interested? That can't possibly be right...
Lets back up a step. Have you ever had an impassioned vegan try to convince you to give up all things animal? Or someone argue with your religious beliefs? The more force, shame or ridicule they use to get you to agree with them, the less chance they have of convincing you to do what they want. The spirit of the movie I Am is about raising consciousness and although I started out with good intentions, at some point I crossed over into wanting to impose my wishes on someone else. At that moment I started becoming what's wrong with the world.
When I take my ideas, no matter how beautiful or right they might be and try to force them on to someone else, I am what's wrong with the world. Disappointment leads to anger and within seconds respect is lost. By believing I know best what is right for someone else, I become a war-monger entitled to impose my will and take what I want. Righteousness is a very dangerous emotion.
It's easy to love when everything is happy and good, but when things don't go our way, or someone disapproves or disagrees with us, we feel outraged and indignant. This is where the real work needs to happen. Can we love and stay connected right there in the midst of anger and disagreement? Can we remember our essential nature of love and connection in that moment? Can you?
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Nina
aworldofdresses.com